WTA RANKING Update: Iga SWIATEK pulls further ahead of Aryna SABALENKA due to new rule as Coco GAUFF and Maria SAKKARI benefit

Iga Swiatek's reign as World No.1 shows no signs of being halted and that has been furthered by a new rule which means a cushion has now developed seeing her less under threat from Aryna Sabalenka.

After last year's US Open, her spot as the leading WTA player was relinquished with Aryna Sabalenka taking top spot until the WTA Finals. The victory over Sabalenka in the semi-finals was vital as she then beat Jessica Pegula to reclaim it but only by 245 points.

This meant that a battle was thus set up with Sabalenka, Rybakina and Gauff for top spot at the Australian Open. But 210 points were added this week due to a new points allocation. Previously the ranking was determined by a maximum of 16 tournaments an the WTA Finals and this has been extended. She can now add the figures from Bad Homburg and Tokyo and sees the gap go up to 455 points.

Coco Gauff, the current World No.3 also adds 110 points meaning that there is more separation between herself, Rybakina and Pegula. The effect means that Maria Sakkari has also pulled in front of Karolina Muchova who herself will lose her top 10 spot as a result of withdrawing from the Australian Open.

Sabalenka is also an interesting story to watch with the Belarusian defending her title with Rybakina defending a final. This means a big stack of points will potentially come off and for Gauff in particular, she could benefit.